Transposition fitting



United States Patent 3,188,378 TRANSPOSITION FITTING Harry L. Kitselman, Wayzata, Minn., assignor to Indiana Steel & Wire Company, Inc., Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 328,270 6 Claims. (Cl. 174-33) Present day practice in the telephone art requires that the two conductors of an overhead pair be transposed in position at more or less definite intervals along the line. This invention relates to a fitting designed to facilitate the effecting of such transposition.

A preferred form of transposition fitting embodying the invention comprises an elongated rod carrying at its ends two heads rotatable relatively to each other about the rod-axis. On opposite sides of the axis, and substantially coplanar therewith, each head is provided with a pair of outwardly opening grooves adapted to receive, at their normal spacing, the two conductors which are to be transposed. By positioning the heads between two parallel conductors received in the grooves and then rotating one of the heads through 180 relative to the other, the desired transposition is simply and quickly effected. Releasable means is provided for retaining the heads in their rotated positions to maintain the two conductors transposed. Conveniently, this releasable means takes the form of a pin projecting transversely from the rod at one end thereof and receivable in a groove provided in the associated head, the head being slidable longitudinally of the rod to disengage the pin and groove when rotation of the head is to be effected.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the transposition fitting with portions thereof broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the fitting applied to two conductors which are to be transposed; and

FIG. 3 is a view similarto FIG. 2 showing the condition existing after transposition of the conductors has been effected.

The device shown in the drawing comprises an elongated circular rod carrying at its ends two heads 11 and 12. As shown, the two heads 11 and 12 are similar and are similarly mounted on the rod 10, but this is not an essential characteristic of the invention.

Each of the heads 11 and 12 desirably has the general form of an isosceles trapezoid and is disposed on the rod 10 with the broader of its parallel sides at the outer end of the rod. In the broader of its parallel sides each head is provided with an elongated groove 13 adapted to receive a pin 14 projecting transversely in opposite directions from the rod near the end thereof. At least one of the heads is rotatable on the rod and is axially slidable inwardly thereof to effect disengagement of the pin 14 and groove 13 to permit the two heads to be rotated relative to each other about the rod-axis. In the particular device shown, both heads are so mounted on the rod and the rod is covered with a sleeve 15 of insulating material the ends of which extend into counterbored portions 16 at the inner ends of the head-openings which receive the rod. As will be clear from FIG. 1, the counterbored portions 16 are deep enough to permit either head to be slid inwardly along the rod 10 for the distance necessary to disengage the pin 14 from the recesses 13 and thereby permit the head to be rotated on the rod.

Each of the heads 11 and 12 is provided in its oblique sides with grooves 18 which open radially outwardly and are adapted to receive the two conductors 19 which are to be transposed. Desirably, over the extent associated with the transposition fitting, sleeves 20 of flexible insulating material are applied to the conductors before the fitting is disposed between them and the grooves 18 are deep enough and wide enough to accept such sleeves. If sleeves 20 are to be used, they are preferably of the type which can be applied to the conductors from the side thereof by a wrapping action.

In use the fitting is applied between two parallel conductors 19 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and with the conductors disposed in the grooves 18 and subjected to some tension, one of the heads, shown as the head 12, is moved toward the other far enough to disengage its groove 13 from the pin 14, and the two heads are rotated relatively through an angle of To facilitate such rotation, the heads may be provided with holes 21 for the reception of rods 22 to which is applied the torque necessary to effect the transposition.

After the two heads have been rotated relatively as just described, the head 12 is moved outwardly along the rod 10 to bring the pin 14 again into the groove 13, thus locating the two heads in their rotated relative position, as shown in FIG. 3. In this rotated position, the conductors cross each other between the heads, one passing above and the other below the rod 10. Because of the converging disposition of the two conductors inwardly of each head, tension in the conductors applies to each head an outward effort tending to maintain engagement of the pins 14 in the grooves 13.

.While I have shown the fitting as applied to conductors in mid-span, it will be understood that the fitting could be applied to the conductors at a support. If the fitting is used at a support point, it can readily be attached to the support as by a clamp embracing the rod 10 and sleeve 15 or by one or more bolts passing through the openings 21.

Because of the possibility of disposing the fitting in mid-span, it is desirable that it be of light weight. It is further desirable that all portions of the fitting which may .be engaged by the conductors 19 or their sleeves 20 be of insulating material. The sleeve 15 shown on the rod 10 makes practicable the use of a metal rod. If such rod is of insulating material, the sleeve 15 might be integral with it or eliminated altogether. It will usually be desirable, however, to provide some means for limiting the heads to position near the ends of the rod.

I claim:

1. A transposition fitting for use in transposing spaced, paired conductors, comprising an elongated member, first and second heads carried by said member and rotatable relative to each other about the axis of the member, each of said heads being provided on opposite sides of such axis with outwardly opening grooves adapted respectively to receive the two conductors to be transposed, and releasable means for maintaining the two heads in fixed relative positions about such axis, said fitting being adapted to be disposed between two parallel conductors to be transposed with said conductors received in said grooves whereby relative rotation of the heads will transpose the conductors, said releasable means being operable after such relative head-rotation to maintain the heads in their relative rotated position and the conductors transposed.

2. A transposition fitting as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said releasable means comprises cooperating elements carried respectively by said elongated member and said first head and disengageable by movement of said first head toward the second head.

3. A transposition fitting as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said releasable means comprises a pin projecting radially from said elongated member axially outward beyond said first head, said first head being provided with a groove in which said pin is receivable and from which the pin can be disengaged by movement of the first head toward the second head.

H. L. KITSELMAN 3,188,378 TRANSPOSITION FITTING Filed Dec. 5, 1963 INVENTOR. 

1. A TRANSPOSITION FITTING FOR USE IN TRANSPOSING SPACED, PAIRED CONDUCTORS, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER, FIRST AND SECOND HEADS CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE MEMBER, EACH OF SAID HEADS BEING PROVIDED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SUCH AXIS WITH OUTWARDLY OPENING GROOVES ADAPTED RESPECTIVELY TO RECEIVE THE TWO CONDUCTORS TO BE TRANSPOSED, AND RELEASABLE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE TWO HEADS IN FIXED RELATIVE POSITIONS ABOUT SUCH AXIS,SAID FITTING BEING ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL CONDUCTORS TO BE TRANSPOSED WITH SAID CONDUCTORS RECEIVED IN SAID GROOVES WHEREBY RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE HEADS WILL TRANSPOSE THE CONDUCTORS, SAID RELEASABLE MEANS BEING OPERABLE AFTER SUCH RELATIVE HEAD-ROTATION TO MAINTAIN THE HEADS IN THEIR RELATIVE ROTATED POSITION AND THE CONDUCTORS TRANSPOSED. 